Howdy friends,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My name is Kendra Rainey, and for the past seven years I\u2019ve had the honor of serving as a school nurse in the Beebe School District. Among the many faces that have passed through our doors, one has left a lasting mark on my heart \u2014 sweet Lilly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I first met Lilly when she was in fourth grade, a bright-eyed girl with a story that could humble anyone who heard it. Though life had already tested her in ways far beyond her years, she carried herself with a light that could fill a room \u2014 radiant, brave, and beautifully full of life. To know Lilly is to love her. No matter what storm she\u2019s walking through, she greets the world with a smile on her face and a little sass in her step \u2014 a reminder that joy and strength can coexist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was her nurse for only a short while before moving to the high school, but I\u2019ll never forget the day she told me, \u201cYou better still be the school nurse when I get there.\u201d And if you know Lilly, you know that when she speaks \u2014 you listen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fast forward a few years, and there we were again, reunited. Seeing her walk through those high school halls brought me so much joy. As nurses, we advocate for Lilly\u2019s medical needs, but what has truly touched me is how our entire Beebe family \u2014 nurses, teachers, staff, administrators \u2014 has surrounded her with love. Lilly isn\u2019t just a student here; she\u2019s part of our family. In truth, I think the whole community feels that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This past year has been heavy for Lilly and her family. Watching someone you care for walk through such difficult times weighs deeply on the heart. Yet even in hardship, the grace and courage they show continues to inspire us all. I\u2019m endlessly grateful for her incredible transplant team in St. Louis and for the care they\u2019ve provided as Lilly prepares for her second transplant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Nurse Heather and I learned that Lilly was back on the transplant list, we didn\u2019t hesitate \u2014 we knew we wanted to do something. Lilly and her family have become an extension of my own. And when family is in need, you show up \u2014 with love, with prayer, with open hands and open hearts. Whether it\u2019s through fundraising for COTA in her honor, listening, or simply standing beside them in faith, I\u2019m grateful to be part of their journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I\u2019m thankful, too, for this beautiful community \u2014 for Beebe School District \u2014 where love stretches far beyond the classroom walls. Together, we are lifting Lilly up, believing for brighter days ahead, and celebrating the incredible young woman she is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With all my love and hope, Howdy friends, My name is Kendra Rainey, and for the past seven years I\u2019ve had the honor of serving as a school nurse in the Beebe School District. Among the many faces that have passed through our doors, one has left a lasting mark on my heart \u2014 sweet Lilly. I first met Lilly when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2360,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Kendra Rainey<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"